FIFA WC Cheat Sheet: Simple Hacks to Appear Like a Football Pro

A FIFA cheat sheet to help you fit right in among football fans.

Mug up these simple things if you want to fit in among FIFA fans this Sunday. 

(Photo: The Quint/Arnica Kala)

Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
Cameraperson: Shivkumar Maurya

The FIFA World Cup final is approaching and football fans around the world are going bonkers over who is going to win. Will history repeat itself with France winning again? Or will it be Croatia’s turn to create history as they play their first ever FIFA WC final?

But wait...if you are a not a football fan, chances are all of this sounds gibberish to you.

But we have got your back.

Here’s calling out to all the people who know nothing about football but are part of the big plan on Sunday. With these simple hacks, you can ace the ‘pretend’ game and avoid sticking out like a sore thumb among FIFA junkies.

Get Your Croatia Trivia Right!

Croatia has never won the FIFA World Cup. In fact, this is the first time they are playing in the finals. Not just that, Croatia lost to France in the 1998 semi-final. So if they win this time, the victory will be rather sweet for Croatia.

If and when Croatia takes its revenge against France...(Photo: GIPHY)

Will France Do ‘Chance Pe Dance’?

France has won the FIFA World Cup once, in 1998, against Brazil and they did make it to the final in 2006. Remember to mention the headbutting by Zinedine Zidane whenever your FIFA lover friends mention that match.

This is what ‘headbutting’ looks like...(Photo: GIPHY)

And don’t forget to mention Mbappe! He’s the 19-year-old forward everyone has their eyes on.

Get the Names Right!

We know pronouncing FIFA players’ names can be a bit of a tongue twister. But you’ll get there. Here are a few French players’ names you must master before you sit down to watch the match: Ngolo Kante, Steven Nzonzi and Samuel Umtiti...get the pronunciations right and you’ll be sorted.

Croatian players’ names are fairly easy to pronounce, as most of them end with an ‘ich’.

Drop Some Generic Lines Now & Then

You may have little or no interest in football, but you can’t get away without knowing what happened this entire FIFA World Cup. So throw in these three lines, now and then, and you’ll fit right in.

I feel so bad for Harry Kane. He’ll get the Golden Boot, but poor guy man! 

Mbappe is so young. I bet he’ll sell for millions in the transfer market, you know. 

VAR totally rocks!!

Caution: It is important to get the emotion right every single time.

So, all set? We bet the fake football fan in you can’t wait for the next FIFA World Cup already! But where will that take place? The answer is Qatar.

And with that, friends, we hope you can enjoy the game without feeling like the odd one out.

You are welcome!